Water play Activity
Why do it?
Water can be calming and fun.
Skills are developed by:
- pouring
- measuring
- filling
- emptying
- splashing
- swirling
- floating.
How to do it
Play safe — water play needs a watching adult. A child can drown in just 5cm of water.
Water play can be:
- washing dishes
- watering the garden
- blowing bubbles
- walking in the rain
- splashing in puddles
- bathing dolls
- paddling in the waves
- having a tea party
- racing waka
- washing the car
- having a bath.
Use buckets, basins, babies’ baths, sieves, hoses and plastic containers.
Have objects that float or sink.
Using more te reo Māori
| Ringi | Pour |
| Wai | Water |
| Ngongo wai | Water hose |
| Ua | Rain |
| Awa | River |
| Hōpua | Pool |
| Kapua | Cloud |
| Tōhihi | Puddle of water |
| Pāpaku | Shallow |
| Tātari | Strainer, colander |
| Horoi | Wash |
| Kaukau | Bathe |
| Tāre | Doll |
| Pākete | Bucket |
| Hoea | Paddle |
| Waka | Boat |
| Utuhia | Fill a container |
| Whakapiakotia | To empty out |
| Kārapu | Splash |
| Patapata | Drip |
| Pūrewa, teretere | To float, be buoyant |
| Takawiri | Cork |
| Totohu | To sink |
| Kia mataara | To be alert, vigilant |
| Kia tūpato | Be careful |
| Kamupūtu | Gumboots |
| Mirumiru | Bubbles |
| Pōrutu | Splashing with hands |
| He mahana tēnei wai | This water is warm |
| He makariri tēnei wai | This water is cold |
| Tangohia ō poraka | Take off your jersey |
| Kei te mākū koe? | Are you wet? |
| Homai te tāora | Pass me the towel |
